Quick connect/disconnect coupling, together with method and device for its assembly

ABSTRACT

A quick connect/disconnect coupling between a female connector and a male connector which is insertable into said female connector, e.g. for connecting a high pressure line to a valve block. The female connector (10) comprises a cylindric space (13) for the cylindrical part (14) of the male connector, the envelope surface of said space being provided with at least one groove (18) for accommodation of resiliently out of and into the cylindrical space movable blocking elements (20). A substantially annular flange (19) is coaxially provided at the outward side of the groove (18) of the female connector, substantially in line with the envelope surface of said space. The blocking means (20) comprise at least three in said groove (18) located metal arc segments, each being biased by an elastic element (21) into an inclined position relative to the symmetrical longitudinal axis of the female connector, said inclined position being the blocking position. In this position, the segments together form a truncated cone, the wide base of which is supported by the outward side of the groove (18), on the radial outside of the flange (19).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a quick connect/disconnect coupling between afemale connector and a male connector which is insertable into saidfemale connector, e.g. for connection of a high pressure line to a valveblock, wherein a male connector to be used with said female connector,comprises a cylindric part which is insertable into the femaleconnector, the envelope surface of which is provided with acircumferential groove with a certain width, said groove accommodatingan axially along the male coupling, between the two walls of the groovemovable ring, having a thickness which is substantially equal to thedepth of the groove, and which female connector comprises a cylindricspace for the cylindrical part of the male connector, the envelopesurface of said space being provided with at least one groove foraccommodation of resiliently out of and into the cylindrical spacemovable blocking elements cooperating in their blocking position withthat edge of the male connector grove being nearest the outer end of themale connector, and being movable out of their blocking position to areleasing position by movement of the ring toward said outer end edge,which movement is possible by pressing the male connector into thefemale connector until the blocking means are brought into a frictionengagement with the peripheral surface of the ring. Also, the inventionconcerns a method and an apparatus for assembling said coupling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A quick connect/disconnect coupling according to the above is knownthrough EP 0375674 and is provided with a spring steel ring. Such aspring steel ring provides sufficient locking security for normalhydraulic applications, but risk deformation when hydraulic pressure isextremely high. If the locking ring is designed more sturdy in order towithstand higher pressure, it will be much more difficult to mount thering into its groove inside the female coupling. The cost of producingthis kind of connector is mainly depending upon that the assembly may bemade rationally and efficiently. Preferably, assembly is automatizedwithout any need for manual skill.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to provide a female connector withlocking means which solve the problem of reliability during very largehydraulic pressure. A further object of the invention is to provide amethod and a tool for assembly of the coupling, so that the problems ofproviding a rational and efficient assembly of the coupling may besolved.

THE SOLUTION

For this object, the female connector according to the invention ischaracterized in that a substantially annular flange is coaxiallyprovided at the outward side of the groove of the female connector,substantially in line with the envelope surface of said space, and thatthe blocking means comprise at least three in said groove located metalarc segments, each being biased by an elastic element into an inclinedposition relative to the symmetrical longitudinal axis of the femaleconnector, said inclined position being the blocking position, in whichthe segments together form a truncated cone, the wide base of which issupported by the outward side of the groove, on the radial outside ofthe flange.

The method according to the invention is characterized in positioningthe elastic element into the groove, inserting a feeding head into thecylindric space of the female connector, feeding one blocking element ata time by means of the feeding head, from the opening end of the femaleconnector past the groove, to a position beyond said groove, whereuponthe blocking element is moved in the direction backwards while beingtilted into the groove, past the flange.

A feeding head for assembling a female connector according to theinvention is characterized in that it is provided with a guide sleeve,which is insertable turnable in the cylindric space of the femaleconnector and acting as a guide for a feeding means which is axiallymovable inside the guide sleeve and comprising a coaxially arrangedslide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to embodiments shownin the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a section through a female connector according to theinvention, shown before assembly of the blocking elements,

FIG. 2 shows correspondingly a somewhat differently designed femaleconnector with a non sectioned male connector, seal means and blockingelements,

FIG. 3 shows a blocking element in a perspective view,

FIG. 3A shows a blocking element similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3,but with a rounded transition region, and

FIG. 4 shows a feeding head in a view from the side, partly sectioned.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The female connector part 10 in FIG. 1 may for example be mounted in anot shown valve housing by means of a outer thread 11 and a hexagon head12. This design of the female connector member results in anextraordinarily small consumption of space at the outside of said valvehousing, which is advantageous because of increased freedom of design,e.g. when mounting the valve housing on an arm which is hydraulicallymanoeuvrable.

A cylindric space 13 inside the female connector 10 enables theinsertion of a corresponding cylindric section 14 of a male connector 15(see FIG. 2). An inner groove 16 extends coaxially along the envelopesurface of the cylindric space and is used for receiving a seal 17comprising an O-ring and a plastic ring.

An outer groove 18 is higher and wider and also provided with aring-shaped flange 19 at that side of the groove 18 which faces outtowards the entrance opening of the female connector. The groove 18 isused for housing blocking elements 20 which are resiliently movable, orrotatable out of and into the cylindric space 13 by means of the actionof an O-ring 21. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention,the groove 18 houses five blocking members 20, each of these beingarched with a length of arc corresponding to 72°, so that they combinedend against end forming a 360° ring which is shaped as a truncated cone.The blocking elements rest freely in groove 18. This truncated coneconverges in the direction from the entrance opening of the femaleconnector, in such a way that the wide base end is supported by theouter side of the groove 18, radially at the outside of the flange 19.The narrow end of the cone projects past the flange 19, out of thegroove 18 and with its opposite end edge into the cylindrical space 13.

In this blocking position, the blocking elements 20, being manufacturedfrom tempered steel and having an in side view according to FIG. 3substantially oblong rectangular shape with profiled ends, form a ringshaped stop surface towards the inner edge of a groove 22 in thecylindrical part 14. The groove 22 is in accordance with prior artprovided with a ring 23, having a width substantially corresponding tothe depth of the groove 22.

The male connector may in accordance with prior art be inserted into thefemale connector 10, wherein the blocking means 20 are first pressed outby means of the front of the cylindrical part 14 of the male connectorand are then resiliently pressed into the groove 22 of the maleconnector. The male connector 15 is now locked inside the femaleconnector 10 and any pressure force is taken by the female connector bymeans of the blocking elements 20, via an angle surface 24 which issubstantially at right angle to the longitudinal axis of the femaleconnector in the locking position of the blocking elements. At the sametime, the blocking elements 20 are supported by each other via the sidesurfaces 25, so that the force is distributed evenly to all fiveblocking elements being supported by a bevelled edge 26 upon the outeredge of the groove 18. By this design of the blocking elements, pressureforces are distributed over large areas without spot loadings, so thatthe coupling is able to withstand extraordinarily high pressure loads,up to 1500 bar, without any risk for functional disturbances.

Dismounting of the coupling is made by removal of a mounting latch 27,whereafter the male connector 15 may be pushed in further some distanceinto the female connector 10. By this, the ring 23 will influence theblocking elements 20 so that these are moved apart, out of the blockingposition. Because the ring 23 is axially displaceable along the waist ofthe male connector, the ring 23 remains in the releasing position, whilethe male connector is pulled back out of the female connector, until themale connector is retracted with its groove 22 past the blockingelements and these may support against the surface of the cylindricalpart of the male connector. The retraction of the male connector isfacilitated by that the blocking means are provided with a bevelling24a.

Although an edge 26a is illustrated in FIG. 3 between base surface 26and outer side 26b the operation of the blocking elements also may befacilitated by the provision of a rounded transition 26c between thebase surface 26 and the outer side 26b, as shown in FIG. 3A, whichtransition forms a hinge point during pivoting between the blockingposition and the releasing position.

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically how the blocking elements 20 areassembled into the female connector 10 with the aid of a feeding head 28which is provided with a guide sleeve 29 which is insertable androtatable inside the cylindrical space 13 of the female connector andwhich forms a guide for a feeding means 30, which is axially movableinside the guide sleeve 29 and comprises a coaxially arranged slide 31.This slide 31 is on one hand provided with a surface 32 which issubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the feeding head28 and on the other an angle surface 33 which serves as a guide forguiding the edge 26 of the blocking element into the groove 18 past theflange 19, while the feeding means 30 moves into the female connector.

The guide sleeve 29 is provided with an angle surface 34 which servesfor guiding the opposite edge 24 of the blocking element into the groove18 while the guide sleeve is retracted for some distance upwards inorder to fetch the next following blocking means.

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically how a blocking means 20 "is tipped"past the flange 19 into the groove 18.

The assembly of the blocking means inside the female connector is madein the following way:

An O-ring 21 is moved into position in the groove 18. The feeding head28 is moved into the cylindrical space 13.

One blocking means at a time is fed from the opening end by means of theguide sleeve 29 wherein it rests upon the surface 32 of the sleeveinside the cylindric space 13 of the female connector, past the groove18, to a position where the edge 26 has passed beyond the flange 19,whereafter the movement of the guide sleeve 29 into the space 13 ishalted.

Then the slide 31 is moved further some distance into the space of thefemale connector which makes the angle surface 33 of the sleeveinfluence the blocking means via its edge 26 to tilt into the groove 18past the flange 19 and the ring 21.

Then the guide sleeve 29 is pulled some distance back, wherein the anglesurface 34 acts against the opposite end 24 of the blocking means, sothat this end is pushed into the groove, against the ring 21.

The guide sleeve is now pulled further some distance upwards and is thenrotated around its longitudinal axis for an angle corresponding to thelength of arc of the blocking element, wherein a projecting packingmeans upon the guide sleeve is brought to displace the blocking elementa corresponding distance in the groove.

The guide sleeve is now rotated back to the original position whereinthe blocking element is positioned to the side of the space which is inthe guide sleeve between the two angle surfaces 33, 34.

The guide sleeve is finally moved back the necessary distance out of thefemale connector, so that the next blocking element may be placed insidethe guide sleeve, for a repetition of the above described feeding cycle.

When the last blocking element is in position in its location in thefemale connector, the above described rotational packing movement doesnot have to be performed.

The invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, butseveral examples are possible within the frame of the accompanyingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A quick connect/disconnect coupling between afemale connector having an envelope surface and a male connector whichis insertable into said female connector, wherein the male connectorcomprises a cylindrical part which is insertable into the femaleconnector and which male connector is provided with a circumferentialgroove with a certain depth and width, a ring mounted in saidcircumferential groove and movable axially along the male connectorbetween two defining walls of the groove said ring having a thicknesswhich is substantially equal to the depth of the groove, and whichfemale connector comprises a cylindrical space for receiving thecylindrical part of the male connector, the envelope surface of saidspace being provided with at least one groove, block elements receivedin said groove in the female connector and rotatable out of and intoblocking positions in the cylindrical space, said blocking elementscooperating in their blocking position with an outer end edge of themale connector groove nearest the outer end of the male connector, andbeing rotatable out of their blocking position to a releasing positionby movement of the ring toward said outer end edge, which movement ispossible by pressing the male connector into the female connector untilthe blocking means are brought into a friction engagement with theperipheral surface of the ring, whereina substantially annular flange iscoaxially provided at the outward side of the groove of the femaleconnector, substantially in line with the envelope surface of saidspace, the blocking elements comprise at least three substantially rigidmetal arc segments resting freely in said groove of the femaleconnector, each arc segment being rotatable into an inclined positionrelative to the symmetrical longitudinal axis of the female connector,said inclined position being the blocking position, in which thesegments together form a truncated cone, the wide base of which isformed by first portions of the segments supported by the outward sideof the groove in the female connector on the radial outside of theflange and portions of the segments spaced inwardly from said firstportions combine end-to-end to support each other in a 360° ring when ina blocking position, and an elastic element engaging and biasing themetal arc segments toward said inclined position.
 2. A couplingaccording to claim 1, wherein each arc segment is provided with a basesurface which in said blocking position is located in a plane which isperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the female connector.
 3. Acoupling according to claim 2, wherein each arc segment is provided witha blocking surface which in said blocking position is located in a planewhich is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the female connector.4. A coupling according to claim 3, wherein each arc segment is providedwith a rounded transition between the base surface and the outside ofthe segment, which transition forms a pivot point during rotationbetween the blocking position and the releasing position.
 5. A methodfor assembling a female connector for a coupling, which female connectordefines a cylindrical space for receiving a cylindrical part of a maleconnector having a transverse edge, which cylindrical part is configuredfor insertion into the female connector, an envelope surface of saidspace being provided with at least one groove for accommodation of atleast three metal arc segment blocking elements movable resiliently outof and into the cylindrical space cooperating in their blocking positionwith the transverse edge of the male connector, an elastic elementengaging and biasing the blocking segments into the cylindrical space,wherein the groove has a width substantially corresponding to the heightof the blocking elements and is provided with an annular flangeconstituting a stop for said blocking elements to prevent them fromsliding out of their groove, comprising the steps of,positioning theelastic element in the groove, inserting a feeding head into thecylindrical space of the female connector, feeding one blocking elementat a time by means of the feeding head, from the opening end of thefemale connector past the groove to a position beyond said groove,whereupon the blocking element is moved in the direction backwards whilea portion thereof is tilted into the groove radially outwardly of theflange.
 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the tilting isaccomplished by bringing a first angled surface of the feeding head toact against one edge of the blocking element, and a second angle surfaceon the feeding head then is brought against the opposite edge of theblocking element during retraction of the feeding head.
 7. A feedinghead for assembling a female connector for a coupling, which femaleconnector comprises a cylindrical space for receiving a cylindrical partof a male connector, an envelope surface of said space being providedwith at least one groove for accommodation of at least three metal arcsegment blocking elements movable resiliently out of and into thecylindrical space cooperating in their blocking position with atransverse edge of the male connector, each blocking element beingbiased by an elastic element into the cylindrical space, wherein thegroove has a width substantially corresponding to the height of theblocking elements and is provided with an annular flange constituting astop for said blocking elements to prevent them from sliding out oftheir groove, whereinthe feeding head operable to assemble said blockingelements in said groove is provided with a guide sleeve, which isinsertable rotatably in the cylindrical space of the female connectorand acts as a guide for a feeding means which is axially movable insidethe guide sleeve and comprises a coaxially arranged slide.
 8. A feedinghead according to claim 7, wherein the slide is provided with a fingerwhich is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thefeeding head.
 9. A feeding head according to claim 7, wherein, the slideis provided with an angle surface for guiding a front edge of theblocking element into the groove, and the guide sleeve is provided withan angle surface for guiding a back edge of the blocking element intothe groove.
 10. A feeding head according to claim 7, wherein the guidesleeve is provided with a peripherally projecting packing means for useduring assembling of the blocking elements in the groove.